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AA418 – Discipline of Students—Staff Responsibilities

  • Effective: 8/27/1969
  • Revision: 5/27/2025
  • Reviewed: 5/28/2013
  1. Board Directive
    The Board recognizes that good discipline and control must be maintained in schools to provide a wholesome educational environment.  The Board, therefore, delegates to the District Administration responsibility for establishing policy for staff responsibility in disciplining students.
  2. Administrative Policy
    In order to maintain a good learning environment, each school principal shall work cooperatively with faculty members, parents, and students to establish a student code of conduct which outlines behavior requirements consistent with District administrative policies.  Individual teachers will be responsible for maintaining good discipline and control in their classes and extracurricular assignments.  All staff members will assist in maintaining discipline in other areas of the building and school grounds.

    1. Teachers and other staff members will promote good rapport with students by demonstrating qualities of honesty, fairness, and consistency in their dealings.  Teachers are expected to help students develop and maintain respect for themselves, for others, and for school property.
    2. Teachers will maintain effective control of the instructional situation in order to provide optimum learning opportunities for all students.  It is the responsibility of the teacher to plan lessons carefully and engage in instructional activities which further student interest.
    3. Principals will work with faculty members to develop and implement teaching methods to alleviate potential discipline problems in the classroom.  Such preventive measures might include:
      1. Redirecting student interest and energy away from disruptive channels toward productive activity.
      2. Involving students in learning situations through participation in individual projects, small group activities, role playing, or discussions.
    4. In situations where student behavior becomes disruptive to the extent that it interferes with the learning and teaching process, the principal or teacher may submit students to reasonable discipline.
      1. Student disciplinary action must be consistent with established rules and regulations.
      2. No one may inflict cruel or irresponsible punishment upon a student or exercise other liberties prohibited by statutory law including any form of corporal punishment as defined under Utah Code §53G-8-301(1).
      3. Students requiring discipline are to be dealt with in a professional and objective manner, without undue emotional display.
    5. When student behavior becomes disruptive to the extent that behavioral intervention measures must be taken, staff members may:
      1. Employ de-escalation strategies as outlined in the Utah Least Restrictive Behavioral Interventions (LRBI) behavior guide (chapter 7), or
      2. When appropriate, employ a “physical escort” as defined by Utah Code §53G-8-301(2) to mean a temporary touching or holding of the hand, wrist, arm, shoulder, or back for the purpose of guiding a student to another location.
    6. When a student presents an immediate danger to self or others, a physical restraint may be
      1. “Physical restraint” is defined by Utah Code 53G-8-301(3) to mean a personal restriction that immobilizes or significantly reduces the ability of a student to move the student's arms, legs, body, or head freely.
      2. A school employee may use reasonable and necessary physical restraint in self-defense or when otherwise appropriate to the circumstances to:
        1. obtain possession of a weapon or other dangerous object in the possession or under the control of a student;
        2. protect a student or another individual from physical injury;
        3. remove from a situation a student who is violent; or
        4. protect property from being damaged, when physical safety is at risk
      3. Use of a physical restraint constitutes an Emergency Safety Intervention (ESI) as outlined in the LRBI behavior guide, and may not be used as a means of discipline or Use of ESI’s must be reported and documented as outlined in the LRBI behavior guide (chapter 7).
      4. In accordance with Utah Code §53G-8-301 (2b) “Nothing in this section prohibits a school employee from using less intrusive means, including a physical escort, to address circumstances described in Subsection (2).”
    7. Corrective disciplinary measures shall be implemented in accordance with Policy AS67—Discipline of Students.
    8. Teachers will provide supervision in their classes and during assigned extracurricular assignments.
    9. Teachers have the responsibility to set and maintain high standards of behavior and act as role models to their students. (See Policy AS95 – Conduct Related to School Activities.)
    10. Teachers and other staff members have the responsibility to communicate with students and their parents in a professional manner.   Text messages to students must be of a professional, not personal nature.  The message content and frequency will be used to determine if disciplinary action is taken by the District.